Isaya 13
1 Tamko kuhusu Babeli, ambalo Isaya mtoto wa Amozi alipokea:
The oracle on Babylon, —of which Isaiah, son of Amoz had vision: —
2 Kwenye mlima wa wazi imewekwa bendera ya ishara, lia kwa sauti kwao, wapungie mikono waende kwenye lango la wenye vyeo.
Upon a bare mountain, lift ye up a standard, Raise high the voice to them, Wave the hand, That they may enter the doors of nobles.
3 Nimewamuru watakatifu wangu, ndio, nimewaita watu wangu wenye nguvu kutekeleza asira yangu, na hata watu wangu wanojigmba na kujiinua wenyewe.
I myself, have given charge to my hallowed ones, —Yea I have called My heroes in showing mine anger, My proudly exulting ones.
4 Kelele za umati wa watu kwenye milima, za watu wengi! Kelele za ghasiaza ufalme kama mataifa mengi yamekusanyika pamoja! Yahwe wa majeshi anapanga jeshi kwa vita.
The noise of a multitude in the mountains, A resemblance of many people, —The noise of a tumult of kingdoms Nations gathered together, Yahweh of hosts, mustering a host for battle!
5 Wametoka katika nchi ya mbali, kutoka juu ya upeo wa macho. Ni Yahwe na silaha zake za hukumu, kuhiharibu nchi yetu.
They are coming in From a land far away. From the utmost bound of the heavens, —Yahweh—with his weapons of indignation, To destroy the land.
6 Omboleza maana siku ya Yahwe imekaribia; itakuja na uharibifu kutoka kwa Mwenyenzi.
Howl ye! for at hand is the day of Yahweh, —As a veritable destruction from the Almighty, shall it come.
7 Hivyo basi mikono ining'inizwe kama kiwete, na kila moyo ulioyeyuka.
For this cause—All hands, shall hang down, —and Every mortal heart, melt.
8 Itawatisha; maumivu na uchungu atawapa wao, kama mwanamke ambaye anajifungua. Watangalia kwa kushangaa kwa kila mmoja mmoja; nyuso zao zitakuwa kama moto.
And they shall be in distress—Writhings and pains, shall lay hold, As a woman in childbirth, shall they be in pangs, —Everyone, at his neighbour, shall look in amazement, Faces of flames, their faces!
9 Tazama, siku za Yahwe zinakuja na laana kali wingi wa hasira, kuifanya nchi yenye ukiwa na kuharibu wenye dhambi katika nchi.
Lo! the day of Yahweh, coming in, Fierce and overflowing, and burning with anger, —To devote the earth to desolation, And her sinners, will he destroy out of it.
10 Nyota ya mbinguni na matangamano havitatoa nuru yake. Jua litakuwa giza na hata mwenzi hautaangaza.
For the stars of the heavens and their constellations, shall not flash forth their light, —Obscured shall be the sun in his going forth, And the moon, shall not shed her light.
11 Nitaihadhibu nchi kwa maovu yake na makosa ya uovu wao. Nitamaliza kiburi cha majivuno na nitawashusha wenye kiburi wasiwe makali.
And I will visit, upon the inhabited earth, calamity!, And upon the lawless, their punishment, And will quiet the arrogance of the proud, And the loftiness of tyrants, will I lay low.
12 Nitawafanya watu kuwa nadra zaidi ya dhahabu nzuri na watu kuwa vigumu kupatikana zaidi ya dhahabu safi ya Ofiri.
I will cause, a man, to be more precious than fine gold, —Even a son of earth than, the finest gold of Ophir.
13 Hivyo basi nitazifanya mbingu kutingishika, na dunia itayumba kutoka sehemu iliyoko, Kwa hasira ya Yahwe wa majeshi, na siku ya hasira yake.
For this cause, the heavens, will I disturb, And, the earth, shall tremble out of her place, —In the wrath of Yahweh of hosts, And in the day of the glow of his anger.
14 Kama Paa anayewindwa au kama kondoo wasio na mchungaji, kila mtu atageukia watu wake na kukimbia kwenye nchi yake.
And it shall be—Like a gazelle that is chased, And like a sheep with none to lift it up, —Each, to his own people, will they turn, And, each, to his own land, will they flee:
15 Kwa yeyote atakayeonekana atauliwa, na yeyote atakayekamatwa atauliwa kwa upanga.
Every one found, shall be thrust through, —And, every one taken, shall fall by the sword;
16 Watoto wao watakatwa vipandevipande mbele ya macho yao. Nyumba zao zitavamiwa na wake zao watabakwa.
And, their infants, shall be dashed to the ground, before their eyes, —Plundered shall be, their houses, and their wives ravished.
17 Tazama, ninakaribia kuwakoroga Wamede ili wawavamie wao, ambao hawaoni maana ya fedha wala furaha ya dhahabu.
Behold me! stirring up against them the Medes, —Who of silver, shall take no account, And as for gold, they shall not delight in it;
18 Mishale yao itawachoma vijana wadogo. Hakutakuwa na shimo kwa watoto wao na hawatawacha watoto wao.
And, bows, shall dash the young to pieces, —And on the fruit of the womb, will they have no pity, Over children, will their eye throw no shield.
19 Na Babali ufalme unaovutia zaidi, fahari ya mapambo ya wakaldyo, itaangamizwa na Mungu kama Sodoma na Gomora.
Thus shall Babylon—The most lovely of kingdoms, The majestic beauty of the Chaldees—Become as in the divine overthrow of Sodom and Gomorrah.
20 Hapatakuwa na wenyeji wala wakazi kutoka kizazi kimoja hadi kizazi kingine. Mwarabu atapiga hema lake uko wala wachungaji hawatalaza mifugo yao pale.
It shall not be dwelt in for ever, Neither shall it be inhabited from generation to generation, —Neither shall encamp there, an Arab, Nor, shepherds, fold their flocks there.
21 Lakini wanyama pori wa jangwani watalala pale. Nyumba zao zitajaa bundi; na mbuni watakaa huko na mbuzi pori wataruka pale.
Then shall lie down there, wild beasts, And filled shall be their houses with owls, —Then shall inhabit there, the ostrich, And shaggy creatures, shall dance there.
22 Fisi watalia kwenye ngome yao, na mbeha katika maeneo yao mazuri. Mda wao umekaribia, na siku zao hazitachelewa.
And jackals shall answer, in their citadels, And wild dogs, in their voluptuous palaces, —And near to come is her time, And, her days, shall not be delayed.
